Rainbow Lounge update: U.S. Attorney's Office WILL NOT investigate or review raid

Aug 7, 2009

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which to our amazement is still referring to it as an “inspection,” reports here that the U.S. Attorney’s Office won’t investigate the Rainbow Lounge RAID as requested by the Fort Worth City Council. U.S. Attorney James Jacks told the ST that while his agency monitors reports of excessive force by law enforcement, it is the FBI’s job to investigate alleged civil rights violations. Jacks said his office doesn’t even plan to review the other agencies’ investigations because, well, they just don’t do that. A spokesman for the FBI said the agency hasn’t received any complaints of civil rights violations at the Rainbow Lounge. The ST has also posted Fort Worth Police Chief Jeffrey Halstead’s response to the report released Thursday from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. In his response, Halstead announces that his agency’s investigation won’t be completed by the original mid-August target date.биржа текстов етхтпродвижение сайта в сша

Don’t dismiss the posssibility of an FBI investigation. Now that US AG Jacks has declined to rubber stamp the stories of the FWPD and TABC, the next step is for those patrons tofile federal suits. This episode is not going to be simply swept under the carpet. It may take months to resolve, but the involvement of the FBI is even more assured now.

It’s amazing to me that you could think that any remark that you don’t happen to agree with must be homophobic. While the court of public opinion may not have high (or any!) standards, actual courts require verifiable credible substantiation…and saying something is homophobic doesn’t make it homophobic. It’s a wonder police agencies ever get any work done, when they have to spend more time deal with hysterical people who either blow things out of proportion or flat out make them up, than actually upholding the law.

I could say that “to my amazement, the Dallas Voice is still referring to the incident at the Rainbow Lounge as a raid” but really, I’m not amazed. I know that this wording, which goes far beyond inflating the occurance, just helps this publication to continue fanning the flames that lead attention away from legitimate efforts within the gay rights movement. I really do feel bad for my friends, family and colleagues who are gay – their work towards equal rights is getting a black eye by the continued efforts of a few to agendize a non-event. If you want change, work for it. In the meantime, let the cops do their jobs and stop assuming you’re being picked on.

It’s not about thinking we’re “being picked on,” it’s about the fact that the officers more than likely were NOT touched in the manner described, and are using the “Gay Panic Defense” to get out of disciplinary action, let alone criminal proceeding for Chad’s injuries.

Don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for law enforcement officials, but if there are questions then they need to be answered because I also have that same respect for my fellow citizens.

If we want change, we’re going to have to keep making our voices heard. Sorry man, but we’re all in this for the long haul.

My God we live in the land of homophobes. Do you really expect anything less? Do you expect change? I mean really, this is Texas where “men are men” and the rest of us are treated like dirt!

If any police agencies or law enforcement agencies go into an establishment in force, IT IS A RAID. Come out of the closet and look at the real world. I wonder how “pro police” feels about his friends in law enforcement having their dirty laundry aired in public. While working for change, are we suppose to put up with police harassment, denial of jobs, loss of our children and even our lives or are suppose to just bend over and take? If you are gay (which I doubt) I sincerely feel sorry for you. Come out, come out, the light is better out here.

@Pro Police, Even TABC refers to this as a raid. It is quite obvious that Chief Halstead was trying to use the gay panic defense by his comments, aired on television, that his officers were groped and acted properly, the day after this RAID occured. So yes, that is homophobic. As to your comment “It’s a wonder police agencies ever get any work done, when they have to spend more time deal with hysterical people who either blow things out of proportion or flat out make them up, than actually upholding the law. I assume you are refering to the police department when you make this comment as they seem to be the ones that are hysterical and blowing things out of proportion and flat out making them up about being groped. Everyone in their right mind knows that did not and would not happen. I have always been a supporter of our police, as I believe the majority are good cops. But I also know there are some bad cops out there and it appears that is what we are dealing with in this instance. I do take issue with Chief Halstead’s remarks. As a gay man, I know a homophobic remark when I hear one. I do not believe you do since you state “I really do feel bad for my friends, family and colleagues who are gay” you are obviously proclaiming yourself not to be gay. Since you are not gay, you would not understand what is like to live with and experience homophobia or even truly know what it is.

Ya know, Carl, you can’t have it both ways. On one hand, I hear a lot of voices calling for enhanced diversity training so that people, particular police officers, can better understand how to work effectively with the gay community and particularly to avoid any behavior that would smack of homophobia. On the other hand, I hear a lot of other voices repeatedly telling people who are straight that they can’t possibly understand what it is like to be gay and deal with homophobia. So which is it, dude? I don’t have to be gay to sympathize with the fact that the gay people are being adversely affected in their righteous work to attain equality because of those who continue to yell without merit in this situation. Let me repeat that: without merit.

Kevin tells me that the cops alleged that they were groped to avoid disciplinary action. Thanks, Kev. Try again. Those inappropriate actions were documented – by a radio call – while still at the bar, and in writing in the police reports long before anyone decided to blow this up and complain to the media. And that is still the most interesting part of this all. All of the original loudmouths gave their stories to the media first…and had to be coaxed into talking to the cops.

I want to return to a previous statement…regarding the gay people in my life. I work closely with one person, in particular, for whom I have the utmost respect. We talk about this case nearly daily, or at least every time the media fires back up with something new. He and his partner both find this situation to be quite outrageous. And it IS a slap in their face and in the face of all people who work through legitimate means to change laws and practices to instead have media attention focus on hysteria. A HUGE slap in their face.

On to you, Bruce. “In force” is what defines a raid? Cops outnumbered 16 to 1 is “in force?” Being outnumbered 16 to 1 wouldn’t even raise this episode to the level of a sting, let alone a raid.

Back to you, Carl. When did TABC refer to this as a raid? I’m not talking about Steen’s off-the-cuff comments that are beyond laughable. I’m talking about written documentation. It’s the activists and the media who call it a raid. The police know better. Carl, you also amuse me in alleging that we’re dealing with bad cops in this situation, which would seemingly refer to all cops at the same time. So, really, Carl. You think 6 cops, 2 agents and a supervisor, none of whom have ever before been accused of using excessive force while on duty or of discriminating in any way, suddenly went rogue at the same time? I’ve seen a lot of your comments, Carl. You’re a smart guy. Surely you don’t think that 9 people went bad at once. That’s beyond conspiracy theories and hysteria…that’s foolish. I won’t in any way deny that there are bad cops. But in this case? Someone wearing the wrong shirt does not rise to the level of being a bad cop.

And just to remind ya’ll, the FBI has already said, more than once now, that they’ve received no complaints that show any reason for them to investigate. Read between those lines. They HAVE received complaints. Quite a few, I’ve heard. None with merit. None. This case is going to come down to a drunk who fell down, and cops who get thrown under the bus for wearing a wrong uniform. Pathetic.

@Pro Police, It’s pretty obvious that you either work for TABC or Ft. Worth PD. I wish you were brave enough to use your name and state your relationship or position in this raid. As you have read my past posts, you will recall that I refrained from refering to this as a raid and referred to it as the Rainbow incident. I did not start referring to it as a raid until TABC did. You can call Steen’s calling it a raid off the cuff if you want, but he has stated that it was an excessive show of force therefore a raid. Not my words his. So, since an official of TABC calls it a raid, I guess I will too. I have agreed with many of your past comments, as you may recall, as I have posted same. If you read the report out by TABC you see the descripenancies in weather Aller was “Slaped” in the groin or grabbed by the testicles. It’s made up, simple and plain. It was made up because all the cops involved knew they were going to have to justify the excessive show of force and the excessive force used and the disruption of business. As to diversity training, yes it is needed, but a straight person will never know what being gay is like, just like a white person will never know what it is like to be black, brown or any other color, even with diversity training. Diversity training does not work for everyone, and is not needed by everyone as I do believe people can have empathy for others different from theirselves and even be apathetic. But there is no way to sort out who needs diversity training and who doesn’t, so all officers should receive it. I’m not gong to get in a pissing match with you over this. I’m done.

Outnumbered……????? Yes they were….. they had GUNS….. duhhhhh Does that somehow decrease the 16:1 Odds. Well of course not… police are allowed to strut their stuff and show their arms. What would happen if we started arming ourselves? BTW Pro Police you can contact me at spunky1369@gmail.com, anytime….. I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOUR BIGOTRY.

Cops Never lie to cover their asses.
Yeah Right>
Reference the recent event in Hollywood, Fl in which some cops rear ended a car, and thinking their in car video was not working, ( it was) were caught on video conspriring to make up a lie to cover themselves.